Photo album Day 9!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LQwgWdEaQAZUufTE7
This morning, I really did mean to get to the British Museum at door open. I woke up in time to get down to breakfast. I went down, ate a yogurt, jam and toast, and had a coffee. I took an orange to go. I went back to my room. I laid down on my bed, thinking I’d feel like getting up in a minute.
Then I set an alarm and woke up again at noon, after resetting my alarm twice more.
My body is exhausted. I’ve been going nonstop for nearly two weeks. I knew I had to be at Regents Park by 2:45 this afternoon for the Pokemon Go Community Day, so heading to the BM for like an hour just wouldn’t cut it. They’re the only ones who really have things I want to see, so I want to give myself time to really examine the artifacts (and see if I can get into the reading room). Essentially, after quick-browsing the Wiki article, I’ll be spending all day tomorrow there, so
Instead, I went to the Twinings Museum and Tea Shop. It’s been a Thing in that building since the turn of the 18th century, so I was expecting something a bit more, well, more. Instead, it was a tiny shop straight back with a bit of a gallery in the rear, displaying a few old teapots and treasures from the tea company’s foundation, and some informative plaques talking about the Twinings family. Cute, but not nearly what I was expecting. They did, however, have a good number of teas I just don’t see back home, so I picked up some strange flavors, a “cold infuse” blend for Mom, and a tea tin for my bestie. Apparently, being a British store, they don’t actually sell Irish Breakfast in tea bags. There was, in fact, only one cubby of Irish Breakfast, and the gent I asked was quick to point out that they “don’t sell that here.” The Brits can be quite rude when it comes to people and places they don’t like, I’ve noticed (c.f. Anne Boleyn discussion). Also, they sold really fancy teas like a Chinese White for like 25£, so let’s have a conversation about imperialism again, shall we? Let’s also conveniently ignore the fact that I spent money in a store founded on colonialist exploitation because I’m a child and it’s my conversation to begin with, I guess.
After Twinings, I started walking toward Charing Cross to catch the Tube to Regents Park, hungry as anything. I was really in the mood for garbage for a change, rather than local food, so I stopped in at the McDonald’s along the way. The place was packed, and there were six or eight touch-to-order screens around – and only one cashier. I picked out a “Big Tasty” burger, fries, and Cadbury McFlurry for under 10£. The fries were basically the same, but the burger had a strange sauce that tried to be Big Mac sauce and ended up having too much heat. I ate it anyway and gave my Monopoly tickets to a dad and his kids, since the US doesn’t have an Oxford Street on their maps. The McFlurry had shavings of the Dairy Milk chocolate in it, and I ended up eating all of it at the park, completely forgetting about the fries I’d stashed for a snack.
I caught the Tube to Regents Park and headed to the designated meeting spot. I’d found a meetups dot com page that featured a few locals getting together, and the commenters had seemed friendly, so I took a chance and stepped up. I – being me, of course I did – made friends immediately, and we started off. For those that don’t know, Pokemon Go hosts Community Days once a month to get “trainers” (players) out in their communities and making real life friends with people. These Days feature a single Pokemon (today’s was Treecko, a Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire starter choice) that spawns at an increased rate with a higher catch rate percent. Too, it’s generally the day Niantic (app creator) releases the “shiny” – or alternate color – edition of the Pokemon, so there’s added incentive to go out and play. If you’re in an area with lots of Pokestops (loot drop points) and people, you can generally catch upwards of a hundred Pokemon, at least two of them shiny.
We walked most of the park’s south side in a big circuit. These folks had taken the route before, and so knew the most efficient way around. The park itself was gorgeous, and I wish I’d taken more pictures. Partly, I was playing the game, but also my phone’s processor is starting to decay, so I didn’t want to stress it out too much. And yes, I did see a lot of the landscape. I was being super social and making friends, only looking at my screen to actually click the ‘mon. I’ve leveled up as a player enough to attempt a catch without looking at the screen, thanks.
Also, I’m really impressed by how few squirrels there are in London – the pigeons are more populous by far! Also also, Regents had a wood pigeon breed that was huge and kinda pretty, with little white speckles behind their heads. I don’t know if I got a picture of one or not.
Once we finished up catching and raiding, my new friends escorted me to the Baker Street station, where I caught the Tube home. I picked up supper at a pub down from the station, where I met a family from Ohio making their way to Prague to drop their daughter for school. It’s kinda crazy how people can afford to things like that – these folks had landed in Amsterdam, hopped to London a few days, and off to Prague tomorrow. I had to finance this entire trip, and get a scholarship besides.
After that family left, a guy came up to my table and “couldn’t help overhearing” that I had an American accent. He chatted for a minute, but I got the “I just want to bang an American girl” vibe so I shooed him off and left. I don’t know, he could’ve just been looking for validation – he did ask how I felt about our esteemed President, Mr 45, but that might’ve been just gauging my character before moving forward in his plans. Who knows.
I did have ice cream again for supper, which is probably the highlight of my adult life – being able to order ice cream and nobody give me a “that’s all you’re eating?” look. I also had tomato soup (not nearly as creamy as ours, more broth-based) and buttery bread, which were also tasty. But dude, clotted cream vanilla and chocolate ice cream is the actual best.
I’m in the process of winding down for the night, and hope to get another long night’s rest before museum exploration tomorrow. I haven’t decided what else I’ll do – maybe hit up the bar in the Spire if they serve food? – but it’s my last day, so I’ll just kind of wing it, I think.
The Crafty Medievalist 